SAINTS defender Nathaniel Clyne is on Merseyside today for a medical, ahead of his £12.5m move to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old right-back has returned from a holiday to America and is in the city to complete the final stages of his transfer to Anfield.

He is expected to sign a five-year contract, with the Reds believed to be paying £10.5m, with a further £2m in add-ons.

While nearing completion, Clyne's transfer may not be confirmed until later this week.

He will become the fourth player to move from Saints to Liverpool in the last year, following on from Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, who made the switch in the summer of 2014.

Saints had hoped to persuade Clyne to stay at St Mary's and had been in negotiations with him for months about a new contract, offering him the maximum amount they felt possible.

However, the player stalled on committing to the club, with it becoming clear that he saw his future elsewhere.

 

As a result, and with just a year to run on his current contract, Saints felt they had little choice but to agree a deal with Liverpool.

Saints have already secured the England international's replacement, having wrapped up the signing of Sporting Lisbon's Cedric Soares earlier this month.